The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c11.t18.1

c11.t18.1

But let us examine the imperialism of Hindu *sârva-bhaumas* (*Weltherrschern*) on the basis of their own charters, decrees and promulgations (*śâsanas*) that have been rendered accessible by the archeological investigations of recent years. The statesmen of the Chola Empire (900—1300) would appear to have been at their wits' end in devising new forms of revenue. No complete list of all the heads of government income is available for this south Indian (Madras and Mysore) state. But several Tamil inscriptions⁵ describe the immunities from dues to the government enjoyed by certain villages through the grant of royal charters. From the schedule of these "privileges" we can automatically see a great part of the other side of the shield, viz. the normal contributions to the imperial treasury for which each village was ordinarily liable. Not all the items are, however, fully intelligible.